The Atlanta Hawks and the Oklahoma City Thunder have hooked up for a trade for a second time in a month. After landing Aaron Wiggins from the Thunder before the 2026 NBA draft for a pair of future second-round picks, the Hawks picked up Lu Dort in a three-team deal involving the Thunder and Dallas Mavericks.
Hawks and Thunder Come Together For Second Time This Offseason In 3-Team Trade, What The Deal Means for Each Squad
Atlanta also received Ryan Nembhard from the Mavericks in the trade, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. Meanwhile, the Hawks sent first-round bust Zaccharie Risacher and a highly protected second-round choice to the Mavericks along with two second-round picks to the Thunder. The Thunder, who created a $17 million trade exception, also received a second-round choice from the Mavericks.
Oklahoma City has now acquired seven second-round picks this offseason, shed $224 million in payroll and tax, and positioned themselves comfortably under the second apron via the trades of Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Wiggins.
Rather than simply declining Dort’s $17.7 million team… https://t.co/fYZO9pS8mj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 19, 2026
This is the sixth trade between the Hawks and Thunder, including the fourth this decade. In addition to the earlier trade this offseason, the Hawks and Thunder were involved in a five-team trade that saw Atlanta get Patty Mills and OKC receive Usman Garuba, Rudy Gay, Ty Ty Washington, and a 2026 2nd-round draft pick.
The teams were also involved in a September 22, 2022 deal where Maurice Harkless was sent to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Vit Krejc. On November 24, 2020, the Hawks traded a 2025 2nd round draft pick (Brooks Barnhizer) to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Danilo Gallinari and cash.
What Does the Trade Mean For The Thunder?
This trade was OKC’s fifth of the offseason. Besides Dort and Wiggins, the Thunder traded Isaiah Joe to Detroit. They also traded for Bennett Stirtz on a draft-day deal with Memphis in exchange for Ebuka Okerie, a 2033 2nd-round pick [OKC pick], and a 2034 2nd-round pick. In a swap of second-round selections, the Thunder dealt Otega Oweh to Miami for Ryan Conwell.
As Charania mentioned, with the trades involving Dort, Wiggins, and Joe, OKC acquired seven future second-round picks. The three second-round choices the Thunder received in this Dort trade are as follows: 2027 Chicago pick (via Dallas), 2031 most favorable pick (via Atlanta), and a 2032 most favorable pick (via Atlanta). Thunder now have 10 first-round picks and 19 second-round selections.
Just as important as the second-round picks is that the Thunder shaved off $224 million in payroll and tax, including $100 million with the Dort trade to the Hawks, per Yossi Gozlan of The Third Apron. The Thunder currently have 14 players under contract for next season with a salary cap hit of $214.2 million, putting them $5.7 million above the first apron.
Oklahoma City Thunder after trading Lu Dort.
They save $100 million and have enough second apron space to sign a 15th player without going over.
They will be in the second apron next season once Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s supermax kicks in. Cason Wallace also extension-eligible. pic.twitter.com/G6gOfq5GYI
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) July 19, 2026
By getting below the second apron, OKC can now aggregate salaries in a trade. However, they still cannot work out a sign-and-trade for free agents or take on more money in a trade.
What Does The Trade Mean For The Hawks?
Atlanta, coming off its best season in 10 years, has retooled its roster. Dort and Nembhard are the fifth and sixth newcomers for the Hawks. The trade was the third of the season, as they also picked up Devin Carter from Sacramento in an earlier move.
Dort is one of the top wing stoppers in the NBA. He is a natural fit alongside Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu. With Dort’s arrival, the Hawks become one of the league’s most physical, annoying, switch‑heavy defenses. The 2024-25 All-NBA Defense first-team selection can guard 1-3 and some small-ball 4s and 5s due to physicality and strength.
While Dort is coming off the least productive offensive season since his rookie campaign, he is an adequate high-volume 3-point shooter. Dort, who knocked down 1.9 threes this past season, is a near 36% career shooter from deep. He projects to come off the bench this season as the Hawks’ 6th man, spelling both Daniels and Johnson.
Nembhard, coming off a solid rookie campaign, adds depth to the Hawks’ backcourt, though it will be interesting to see if he sticks around due to the logjam at point guard. He is capable of providing instant offense, is an outstanding passer, and can come up with plays on the defensive end, though his lack of size is problematic in certain situations.
Atlanta has 17 players on standard deals and is $4.0 million below the luxury tax threshold. The Hawks are also $11.2 million from being hardcapped at the first apron. Dort, on a $17.2 million expiring contract, is extension eligible over the next six months while Nembhard appears headed for restricted free agency.
What Does The Trade Mean For the Mavericks?
Less than 24 hours after matching New York’s offer sheet for Moussa Cisse, the Mavericks added another athletic youngster in Risacher. Risacher, the No. 1 pick in 2024, finished No. 2 in ROY voting last season, but he didn’t take the expected developmental step this season. While the 21-year-old still has time to develop, it is clear he shouldn’t have been the top pick.
Risacher gives the Mavericks another wing with size. Risacher, who can guard 2-4, has shown flashes offensively with 10 20-point games, including four 30-point contests over the last two seasons. The 6-8 forward is a capable 3-point shooter — averaging 1.5 triples at a 36% clip 00 for his career, but confidence and consistency are issues. He figures to compete for minutes with the Mavs’ second unit.
Dallas Mavericks after trading for Zaccharie Risacher. He’s a little more likely to get his $17.4 million team option for 2027-28 picked up with this trade.
They still have $7 million remaining of their Anthony Davis trade exception.
They’re out of second-round picks to trade. pic.twitter.com/1Rj1g84AZg
— Yossi Gozlan (@YossiGozlan) July 19, 2026
Risacher is the Mavs’ seventh newcomer. The Mavericks have 16 players on standard contracts and are $2.2 million below the luxury tax. The Mavs have seven first-round picks, four of which are tradeable, but no second-round selections. The second-round pick that they received from Atlanta in 2027 is top-55 protected.
